The Anatomy of Melancholy

Or used externally, such as: Oils of camomile, violets, roses, etc. Ointments: alablastritum, populeum, etc. Liniments; plasters, wax plasters, poultices, forehead applications, warm compresses, medicinal lotions, sacks, bags, scents and flower bouquets, etc. Or purging treatment: continued below. Or treatment particular to the three distinct forms: see Section 5, Members 1–3.

Sections: 2.4.1.5; 2.4.2; 2.5.1; 2.5.2; 2.5.3.

Member 2. Medicines that purge melancholy are either: Simple purgative substances: Subsection 1. Acting upward, as emetics: Asarabacca, laurel, white hellebore, squill or sea onion, antimony, tobacco. Or downward. Subsection 2. Gentler: senna, epithyme, polypody, myrobalans, fumitory, etc. Stronger: aloes, Armenian stone, lapis lazuli, black hellebore.

Sections: 2.4.2.1; 2.4.2.2.

Or Subsection 3. Compound medicines that purge melancholy. Through the upper parts: The mouth: Swallowed: Liquid, such as potions, juleps, syrups, wines of hellebore, bugloss, etc. Solid, such as Armenian stone and lapis lazuli preparations, Indian pills, fumitory pills, etc. Electuaries: diasena, the confection of Hamech, Hierologladium, etc. Or not swallowed, such as gargles, substances to chew, etc. Or the nostrils: sneezing powders, scents, perfumes, etc. Or through the lower parts: strong and weak enemas, and suppositories of Castile soap, boiled honey, etc.

Sections: 2.4.2.3.

Member 3. Surgical medicine, consisting of: Bloodletting, from almost every part, and for all the distinct forms. With a knife or leeches. Cupping glasses. Cauteries, searing with hot irons, and boring. Pitch plasters and mustard applications. Open sores made in different parts for different purposes.

Sections: 2.4.3.

Section 5. The cure of head melancholy. Member 1. Subsection 1. A moderate diet: food yielding wholesome juices, moistening and easily digested. Good air. More sleep than usual. Daily evacuation of waste, naturally or with medical assistance. Exercise of body and mind, neither too strenuous nor too slight; avoidance of the mind’s passions and disturbances. 2. Bloodletting, if necessary or if the blood is corrupt, from the arm, forehead, etc., or with cupping glasses.

Sections: 2.5.1.1; 2.5.1.2.

3. Preparatory medicines and purgatives. Preparatory medicines: syrups of borage, bugloss, epithyme and hops, with their distilled waters, etc. Purgatives: those of Montanus and Matthiolus, hellebore treatment, Quercetanus, syrup and extract of hellebore, Hali’s powder, prepared antimony, and Ruland’s wonderful water. These are used if gentler medicines have no effect; with Arnoldus, bugloss wine, senna, cassia, myrobalans, drinkable gold, or first Hamech’s confection, Indian pills, hiera, and pills of Armenian stone and lapis lazuli.

Sections: 2.5.1.3.